MEET THE #PedsMatch2025 TEAM
The #PedsMatch2025 team is comprised of a group of dedicated future pediatricians from around the world. Learn more about them below.
Co-Directors
Co-Director
Stephanie Maeda
​Medical School- WesternU COMP-NW
What makes you excited about peds?
I am excited by the opportunity to work with kids to adolescents from all walks of life as a pediatrician. Within the wide variety within the field of pediatrics, I am not sure if I want to subspecialize but I am particularly excited by the advocacy opportunities. In the future, I hope to work with adolescents and youth from minority and underserved populations.
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Hobbies- Baking, Hiking, Swimming, Traveling, Spending time with my family and friends
Co-Director
Caroline Maltese
​Medical school- Penn State College of Medicine
What makes you excited about peds?
I am excited about the opportunity to work together with the patient and family to provide wholistic, patient centered care that emphasizes the importance of physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing!
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Hobbies- Indoor cycling, musical theater, and cooking
Equity Team
Assistant Director of Equity- IMG
Deephthi Jayakumar
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Medical School- American University of Antigua College of Medicine
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What makes you excited about peds?
Pediatrics excites me as it gives me the opportunity to impact children’s development and health from a young age, creating a strong foundation that’ll positively impact their future. I also love interacting with kids and their families to educate and support them in their recovery.
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Hobbies- Reading fictional books, Baking, Table tennis, Cricket
Assistant Director of LGBTQ+ Equity
Ariel Vargas
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Universidad San Francisco de Quito (Ecuador)
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What makes you excited about peds?
How kids bounce back after being really sick
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Hobbies- Running, Scuba diving, Painting
Assistant Director of DO Equity
Fariya fatima
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Medical School - UNT Health Science Center - Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC-TCOM)
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What makes you excited about peds?
Joy, resilience, and endless stickers!!! 🤩 Pediatrics offers us a unique opportunity to care and advocate for patients and families during their happiest to most vulnerable moments.
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Hobbies- Rollerblading, photography, crochet, reading 🛼
Public Relations Team
Residents Liaison Director
Associate Director
Kennedy Fuglseth
Residency Program - University of Wisconsin - Madison
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Medical School - Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
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What makes you excited about peds?
Finding joy in coming into work daily even when exhausted is the most exciting part about pediatrics for me. The children never fail to make me happy, even on the toughest of days.
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Hobbies - Crochet, gaming, reading, biking
Associate Director
Puneet Anand
Residency Program - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai/NYCH+H Elmhurst
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Medical School - Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune, India
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What makes you excited about peds?
What excites me about pediatrics is the opportunity to work with children, particularly those from vulnerable groups such as those with autism or victims of child abuse. I am passionate about understanding and addressing the social determinants of health, recognizing how these factors profoundly influence the lives and well-being of children.
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Hobbies - Passionate about classical music and dance, culinary adventurer, Harry Potter enthusiast, and a dog walker.
Associate Director of Public Relations
Alanis Rosado
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Medical School- USF Morsani College of Medicine
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What makes you excited about peds?
Advocacy, teaching and preventative health! My love for kids and belief in their ability to shape the future fuels my drive to ensuring that every kid has the care to thrive emotionally and physically.
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Hobbies- Exercising, reading, shopping and trying new restaurants
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Assistant Director of Social Media
Gwendolyn George
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Medical School - Eastern Virginia Medical School
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What makes you excited about peds?​
Kids are the bravest, strongest, most optimistic patients ever! And honestly, I enjoy a good conversation about Paw Patrol over talking weather or traffic any day!
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Hobbies- Sewing, baking, music
Assistant Director of Design
Oscar Sanchez
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Medical School - Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí
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What makes you excited about peds?
Children have their whole lives ahead of them, each one of them is a world of infinite possibilities, that gives me more satisfaction and commitment.
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Hobbies- Play the trumpet, botanic, see series and movies, spend time with my family and friends, history
Assistant Director of Social Media
Kirtana George
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Medical School- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
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What makes you excited about peds?
Advocating for children's health and providing compassionate care to help each child thrive and enjoy a happy, healthy life!
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Hobbies- Traveling, rating new restaurants, taking care of houseplants
Assistant Director of Web Design
Kushal Kriplani
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Medical School- Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and SJ Hospital
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What makes you excited about peds?
The kids and The outcomes!! Pediatrics is the front seat of Medicine where despair meets joy!! Experiences during medical school and personal incidences have shaped my love for pediatric care to what it is today
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Hobbies- Soccer, Poetry, Pop culture!!
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Research Team
Associate Director of Webinars
Sheena Bedi
Medical School- DY Patil Medical College , India
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​What makes you excited about peds?
The rewarding opportunity to leave a positive impact on young lives, the joy of seeing children grow and develop into beautiful young adults and the close relationships I will get to build with patients and their families!
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Hobbies- Dancing, Yoga , Listening to music , Baking
Assistant Director of Webinars
Lavanya
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Pediatrics allows me to participate in child advocacy every day. I am looking forward to making lasting connections with children and their families. And not to forget the adorable and unpredictable interactions with kids that make your day better!
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Hobbies- Reading,Cooking, Video Essay Geek
Assistant Director of Webinars
Erin Kneeskern
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Medical School - University of Colorado School of Medicine
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What makes you excited about peds?
I love building strong relationships with kids and their families and am inspired by the resiliency of children!
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Hobbies - I love to ski, camp, dance, cook and climb!
Assistant Director of Webinars
Anna Geiger
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Medical School - Des Moines University
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What makes you excited about peds?
I am super excited about going into pediatrics because of how fun kids can be to work with, their resilience, their strength, and their outlook on the world. I am looking forward to having the opportunity to work to increase access to mental health care in whatever field of pediatrics I decide to go into.
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Hobbies - Circus arts: aerial silks, handstands, unicycling and juggling!
Assistant Director of Webinars
Fiona Whitaker
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Medical School-East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine
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What makes you excited about peds?
The opportunity to impact kid's lives in a way that can have a real impact on their future.
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Hobbies- Traveling, Spending time with friends, Trying new restaurants
Assistant Director of Webinars
Victoria Morrill
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Medical School - Chicago Medical School - Rosalind Franklin
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What makes you excited about peds?
I am applying to pediatrics this Match Season! What draws me to pediatrics is the resilience that kids have. No matter what is going on, kids are ready to fight with everything they have. I also really like the longitudinal aspect of pediatrics. My goal as a future pediatrician is to build strong relationships with my patients from the moment they are born until well into their adult years.
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Hobbies - Some of my hobbies outside of medicine include biking, wake surfing, and spending time with family and friends.
Assistant Director of Webinars
Ria Peralta
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Medical School - Nova Southeastern University
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What makes you excited about peds?
Advocating for the best care for each kiddo so they can lead happy, healthy, successful lives!
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Hobbies - Powerlifting, paddle boarding